European Union leaders announced on Thursday they gave Theresa May a new Brexit deadline of October 31, four months longer than the prime minister asked for, in a move the EU summit chair said would let Britain resolve its domestic deadlock on the issue.
Addressing a news conference after eight hours of talks, European Council President Donald Tusk said the 'course of action will be entirely in UK's hands' and called on Britain not to "waste this time."
Tusk stressed Britain could still leave earlier if the British Prime Minister secures parliamentary backing for her Brexit treaty, or it could amend what it wants from a future trade pact.
The agreement gives May more than the three months to June 30 that she asked for to build a parliamentary majority behind the withdrawal treaty she negotiated with the EU last year.
EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said EU Leaders would assess the situation again when they meet for a regular summit on June 20-21, to which Tusk added the meeting would not be "a cliff edge or a moment to take new decisions."
Juncker said the postponement meant Britain would probably have to hold Europeans elections together with the 27 other members on May 23-26.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters
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